Golf club washer

ABSTRACT

A SET OF GOLF CLUBS ARE CLEANED BY INSERTION INTO GUIDE TROUGHTS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AT AN ANGLE FROM THE FRONT PANEL OF A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BRUSH ASSEMBLY. UPON DISPLACEMENT OF THE BRUSH ASSEMBLY INTO CONTACT WITH THE HEADS OF THE INSERTED GOLF CLUB, WATER JETS DISCHARGED INTO THE BRUSH ELEMENTS WHILE BEING ROTATED BY A MOTOR. THE CLUB HEADS ARE PROPERLY POSITIONED IN THE GUIDE TROUGHT BY STOPS.

Nov. 16, 1971 G. F. RUSSELL ETAL 3,619,841

GOLF CLUB WASHER Filed Oct 9, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w! W M. w H W wmw Mv. s V 9 M w M N T R A F W QN e m M mm wk 6R m 11:45-}? J U J 1% t H /NK4 A) Nw wm -n 1 3 a f g a g ww\ Fa? mm a? v Q Nov. 16, 1971 G. F.RUSSELL ETAL 3,619,841

GOLF CLUB WASHER S Sheets-Sheet I Filed Oct. 9, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971RUSSELL ETAL 3,619,841

GOLF CLUB WASHER Filed Oct. 9, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 George F RussellRichard Mc Wain United States Patent Oifice 3,619,841 Patented Nov. 16,1971 3,619,841 GOLF CLUB WASHER George F. Russell, 25 Palmer Ave.,Kenmore, N.Y. 14217, and Richard McWain, 21 Union St., Batavia, N.Y.14020 Filed Oct. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 865,067 Int. Cl. A46b 13/04 U.S. Cl.15-21 D 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A set of golf clubs arecleaned by insertion into guide troughs extending downwardly at an anglefrom the front panel of a Washing machine having a pivotally supportedbrush assembly. Upon displacement of the brush assembly into contactwith the heads of the inserted golf clubs, water jets are dischargedinto the brush elements while being rotated by a motor. The club headsare properly positioned in the guide troughs by stops.

This invention relates generally to the cleaning of golf club heads andmore particularly to a golf club washer of the power driven brush type.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an elfectivewashing machine for golf club heads that require a minimum amount ofadjustment and maintenance and is operative to simultaneously clean allof the heads of a set of clubs.

In accordance with the present invention, the front panel of the washingmachine is provided with a plurality of slots aligned diagonally acrossthe panel for receiving a plurality of irons and a wood. Guide troughsextend from these slots downwardly to establish a support plane on whichthe inserted golf clubs are positioned by stops engaging the heads atthe lower ends of the guide troughs. A power driven brush assembly ispivotally mounted for displacement from an inoperative position to anoperative position wherein a plurality of rotary brush elements engagethe heads of the clubs at the lower ends of the guide troughs. When thebrush assembly is pivotally displaced to its operative position, anassociated drive motor is energized and a solenoid operated valve isopened to supply water under pressure to nozzle orifices from which jetsof water are discharged into the rotating brushes thereby effectivelycleaning the golf club heads. The machine is maintained in an operatingcondition for a timed period, the timing cycle being initiated uponclosing of a coin switch by coinage deposited into a coin mechanism.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, 'whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing the machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 55 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan view of an internal portion of the machine.

FIG. 7 is a simplified electrical circuit diagram associated with themachine of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the golf club washing machinegenerally denoted by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 includes a housingor cabinet generally referred to by reference numeral 12 supported in avertical position above a floor or ground surface by four corner legs14. At least the bottom portion of the cabinet 12 is made water-tightfor reasons which will become apparent hereafter. The cabinet includes afront panel 16 interconnected with side panels 18 and 20 and a top panel22. A back panel 24 is removable secured to the side and top panels.Angle iron frame members including extensions of the legs 14 arefastened to the panels of the cabinet for support thereof. The cabinetpanels also enclose a chamber within which water is collected at thebottom. Accord ingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom wall 26' of thecabinet is inclined downwardly toward a central portion at which a drain28 is located. Water collected within the cabinet chamber may thereforebe conducted away through the drain 28 to any suitable location.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, four slots 30 are formed in thefront panel 16 in order to receive golf club irons while a fifth slot 32is adapted to receive a wood. The slots 30 and 3-2 are aligned at anangle to the vertical closer to the side panel 18. A water supply pipe34 enters the cabinet through the other side panel 20 adjacent the topthereof. Also, an electrical power cable 22 enters the side panel 20adjacent the top. The upper end portion of a coin mechanism 36. projectsabove the top panel 24 and is adapted to receive coins of properdenomination in order to initiate operation of the Washing machine.Deposit of the proper coinage will initiate operation of the machine fora predetermined period of time as will be explained hereafter. Theoperating condition of the machine is indicated by an indicator lamp 38mounted on the front panel.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the water supply pipe is connected within thecabinet adjacent the side wall 20 to a solenoid operated valve assembly40 through a manually operable cut-oft valve 42. The solenoid valve 40is normally closed so that when energized during a timed operatingcycle, it will open to admit flow of water under pressure through theflexible hose 44 to a pivotally mounted brush assembly generallyreferred to by reference numeral 46. The solenoid operated valve 40 iscontrolled by a timing mechanism associated with a control circuitwithin the control box housing 48 also containing the coin mechanism 36.Thus, the electrical power cable 22 enters the housing 48 for supply ofelectrical energy thereto, Electrical energy from the control circuit isalso fed to a pair of solenoid devices 50 and 52 fixedly mounted by aninternal frame structure 54 that extends at an incline to the verticalbetween the side panels 18 and 20 in order to support the brush assembly46 and a cradle assembly 56 on which the brush assembly is movablysupported. Pivotal displacement of the cradle assembly with the brushassembly mounted thereon is effected by energization of the solenoiddevices 50 and 52 in order to move the brush assembly from aninoperative to an operative position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the cradle assembly 56 includes apair of angle frame members 58 and 60 which are interconnected inparallel spaced relation to each other by end bars 62 and 64. Secured toeach of the end bars is a bracket 66 providing spaced support for apivot shaft 68 extending from each of the end bars through pivotaljournal assemblies 70 supported by the frame structure 54. The framestructure also mounts adjacent opposite ends of the cradle assembly, apair of stop brackets 72 and 74 adjustably mounting stop elements 76 and78. The lower stop elements 76 are adapted to be engaged by the framemember 60 of the cradle assembly in the operative position thereof asshown by solid line in FIG. 5. In the operative position as shown bydotted line in FIG. 5, the cradle assembly is engaged with the upperstop elements 78.

The cradle assembly is pivotally displaced about the axis extendingthrough the pivot shafts 68 by means of the solenoid devices 50 and 52each of which includes a solenoid 80 as more clearly seen in FIG.secured by fastener assemblies 82 to the frame structure. An armature 84projects upwardly from each solenoid device and is connected by a link86 to the frame member 58 of the cradle assembly. Thus, when thesolenoid devices are energized, downwardly displacing the armatureelements 84 from the solid line position to the dotted line position asshown in FIG. 5, the cradle assembly is pivotally displaced in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 to an operative position.Pivotal movement of the cradle assembly is guided by means of a bar 88which is slidable between guides 90 secured to the frame structure 54,the ends of the bar 88 being pivotally connected through links 92 to theframe member 58 of the cradle assembly as more clearly seen in FIG. 4.Twist of the cradle assembly is thereby avoided at locations where it isloaded by the brush assemblies supported thereon.

Interconnected between the frame members 58 and 60 and dependingtherebelow, are a pair of support structures 94 having projecting arms96 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 from which journal assemblies98 depend, said journal assemblies being secured by fastener assemblies100 to the projecting arms 96. Thus, the journal assemblies 98 establisha rotational axis for the brush assembly which is parallel to the fixedpivotal axis of the cradle assembly extending through the pivot shafts68. The journal assemblies 98 rotatably support therebetween the powershaft 102 of the brush assembly on which a plurality of brush elements104 are fixedly mounted in axially spaced relation to each other. Eachbrush element 104 includes a plurality of circumferentially spacedbristle bundles 106. Each brush element is thereby effective to cleangolf club heads when in contact therewith, with a sweeping action.

One end of the power shaft -2 extends sufiiciently beyond the supportframe assembly 94 to mount a driven pulley wheel 108 about which a drivebelt 110 is entrained, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The drive belt is alsoentrained about a drive pulley 112 connected to the output shaft of adrive motor 114. The drive motor is secured by fastener assemblies 116to a support plate 118 welded to the frame members 58 and 60. Thus, uponenergization of the drive motor 114, rotation is imparted through thepower shaft 102 to each of the brush elements 104 of the brush assembly.

The brush elements 104 are respectively aligned above the lower ends ofa plurality of guide troughs 120 that extend from the insert slots 30and 32 at an angle to the front panel 16 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3.Further, since the slots 30 and 32 are aligned along a downward incline,the guide troughs 120 also extend downwardly so that the lower ends 122thereof are aligned below the brush elements 104 as shown in FIGS. 3 and4.

Each of the guide troughs 120 is similar in construction and are made ofchannel members having side legs 124 and bottom supporting webs 126, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The spacing between the legs of the channelmembers is sufficiently wide to receive the heads of the golf clubs withclearance. Further, the legs 124 terminate at the edges of the slots 30and 32 in the front panel while the webs 126 are fiush with the bottomedges of the slots to establish a support plane parallel to the pivotalaxis of the cradle assembly and the rotational axis of the brushassembly. A pair of stops 128 and 130 are mounted adjacent the ends 122of each of the guide troughs as more clearly seen in FIG. 6 so that thehead of an iron 132 may be properly positioned in the guide trough. Eachof the guide troughs except for the one extending from the slot 32, isprovided with a rest element 134 intermediate the ends thereof so as tosupport the golf club handle 136 of an iron in proper position against achannel leg 124 as shown in FIG. 6. The golf club irons when sopositioned will have the heads 132 properly aligned below the brushelements 104. Thus, when the cradle assembly is displaced from aninoperative position to an operative position, the brush element willcontact the golf iron head 132 within each of the guide troughs. Theguide trough extending from the slot 32 on the other hand is providedwith an opening 138 so that the head 140 of the wood may projectdownwardly therethrough. A bracket 142 depending from the guide troughadjacent the end 122 and underlying the opening 138 supports the lowersurface of the wood head 140 as more clearly seen in FIG. 4.

The flexible hose 44 through which water is supplied from the solenoidvalve 40, is connected to the lower end of an orifice nozzle tube 144secured as by welding to the cradle assembly 56 by means of the supportstructures 94 as more clearly seen in FIG. 4. The tube 144 will beprovided with orifices aligned with each of the brush elements 104 so asto direct a jet of water into the brush element while it is beingrotated in its operative position projecting into the guide troughs 120at their lower ends 122 as shown by dotted line in FIG. 4 in order toengage and elfecivtely clean a golf club head.

When a coin is deposited into the coin mechanism 36, it is operative toclose a coin switch 146 as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 7thereby completing an energizing circuit through a timer mechanism 148to initiate a time cycle during 'which an energizing circuit for thedrive motor 114 is completed through the timer switch 150 causing thebrush elements to be rotated. At the same time, the solenoid devices 50and 52 are energized in order to displace the cradle assembly and thebrush assembly supported thereon to the operative positionaforementioned. Also, the normally closed solenoid valve 40 is energizedto admit water under pressure so that water may be discharged in jetform into each of the rotating brush elements as they engage the headsof the golf clubs. The heads of a complete set of golf clubs are therebyeffectively cleaned at the same time without use of detergent and for aperiod of time determined by the timing cycle of the timer 148. At theend of the timing cycle, the timer switch 150 opens so as totie-energize the drive motor 114 and the solenoid devices 50 and 52causing the cradle assembly and brush assembly supported thereon topivot to its inoperative position under its own weight. The stopelements 76 and 78 will of course limit pivotal movement of the cradleassembly between its two positions. Also, the solenoid valve 40 isde-energized at the end of the timing cycle so as to close off thesupply of water.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Apparatus for cleaning golf club heads or the like comprising ahousing having a receiving slot formed therein, brush means mountedwithin the housing for rotation about a rotational axis disposed at anacute angle to the vertical, guide means fixedly mounted within thehousing and extending from the receiving slot downwardly below therotational axis of the brush means adapted to position a golf club headin engagement with the brush means, and movable support means mountingthe brush means for displacement of the rotational axis betweenoperative and inoperative positions relative to the guide means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the guide means includes a channelmember having opposite ends respectively aligned with the receiving slotand the brush means, a rest element mounted in the channel memberintermediate said ends adapted to support the handle of the golf club,and stop means mounted in the channel member at the end aligned belowthe rotational axis of the brush means adapted to engage the head of thegolf club, said brush means projecting into the channel member at saidlatter mentioned end in the operative position of the rotational axis.

3. The combination of claim 2 including power operated means forrotating the brush means only when the rotational axis is in theoperative position, and means for injecting fluid under pressure intothe brush means during rotation thereof.

4. The combination of claim 1 including power operated means forrotating the brush means only when the rotational axis is in theoperative position, and means for injecting fluid under pressure intothe brush means during rotation thereof.

5. Apparatus for cleaning golf club heads or the like comprising ahousing having a receiving slot formed therein, brush means mountedwithin the housing for rotation about a rotational axis disposed at anacute angle to the vertical, guide means fixedly mounted within thehousing and extending from the receiving slot downwardly below therotational axis of the brush means adapted to position a golf club headin engagement with the brush means, the guide means including a channelmember having opposite ends respectively aligned with the receiving slotand the brush means, a rest elements mounted in the channel memberintermediate said ends adapted to support the handle of the golf club,and stop means mounted in the channel member at the end aligned belowthe rota- 6 tional axis of the brush means adapted to engage the head ofthe golf club.

6. The combination of claim 5 including power operated means forrotating the brush means, and means for injecting fluid under pressureinto the brush means during rotation thereof.

7. Apparatus for cleaning articles comprising a housing having a frontpanel provided with a plurality of article receiving slots aligned at adownward incline, a plurality of guide troughs extending downwardly fromthe slots establishing an article support plane parallel to saiddownward incline and perpendicular to the front panel, brush meansaligned above lower ends of the guide troughs, a power shaft rotatablymounting the brush means about a rotational axis parallel to saidsupporting plane, support means movably mounting the power shaft fordisplacement of the brush means to an operative position adjacent thelower ends of the guide troughs, and fluid supply means mounted on thesupport means for directing jets of fluid under pressure into the brushmeans.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said support means includes acradle pivotally mounted within the housing about a fixed axis parallelto the rotational axis of the brush means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,619,663 12/1952 Johnson et al.1588 3,148,396 9/1964 Smith 1521 D 3,332,099 7/1967 Reiter 15-21 REDWARD L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner

